Apparatus for swaging dental plates



May 5, 1931. M. CHARLIER 1,804,318

APPARATUS F OR SWAGING DENTAL PLATES Original Filed June 21, 1928 add" 3 Patented May 5, 1931 UNITE STATES MAURICE CHARLIER, OF BRUSSELS, BELGIUM APPARATUS non. SWAGING DENTAL PLATES Original application filed June 21, 1928, Serial No. 287,219, and in Belgium June 25, 1927. Divided and this application filed July 29, 1929. Serial No. 381,877.

The present invention relates to a new and improved apparatus for swaging metal plates for dental apparatus, and more particularly the kind of plates made of metal of high me 10 specialized workshops or factories. In particular it is an object of my invention to provide an apparatus suitable for carrying out the-method of swaging metal plates claimed in my. co-pending patent application Ser. No. 287,219 of which the present application is a division.

With these objects in view my improved apparatus comprises a base'carrying a die adapted to support the plates to be swaged. In accordance with the said method swaging is performed by hammering from the centre outwards a body of soft metal laid onrthe plate. My apparatus accordingly further comprises a suitable soft metal body, and adjustable means for clamping such body and the plate in position.

The accompanying drawing shows by way of example an embodiment of my improved apparatus. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a die for swaging, on which is laid the plate to be hammered.

Figs. 2 and 3 are plan views corresponding to Fig. 1 diagrammatically showing the winding of a soft metal strip in two successive phases.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the apparatus complete.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the clamping lever.

Referring to said drawings, 1 denotes the base of the apparatus; a standard 2 screwed in said base forms a horizontal pivot 5 for the swinging lever 3 which is serrated or milled at its flattened end 4.

This lever is provided with an oblong slot 6 through which extends a threaded rod 7 hooked at its lower end 9 to an eye 10 screwed into the base 1, while its end above the lever 3 carries a clamping nut 8. I

11 is the metal die on which is to be swaged the high resistance metal plate 14, which is for example of rustless steel; this die is secured in position on the base 1 by lugs integral with the latter, or by any other suitable means. fected in the following manner: the dental plate 14 is first subjected to a brief hammering in order to shapeit to the shape of the palate; it then is placed on the die in the position where the whole must be pressed.

At that moment there is introduced between the dental plate 14 and the end 4 of the lever 3 a strip 12 of soft metal, for example lead or tin,the first coil of which, of spiralshape, is clamped by the nut 8 of the lever 3, which firmly secures the whole The swaging operation is ef in position and presses on the centre of the plate. Successive coils of the soft metal strip are then pressed and hammered, as they are gradually wound, the effect of which is to press and spread the dental plate 14 without folding or tearing the metal.

The same operation can be performed with the use, instead of a strip 12, of a plate of soft metal of the size of the plate to be swaged and of a suitable thickness; this plate is slightly hammered on the centre of the dental plate in order that the lever may seize the plate intended therefor, so as to proceed as with the strip, i. e. by pressing and hammering the soft metal in successive portions, starting from the centre towards the periphery, which causes the dental plate to spread on the die.

A set of intermediate plates, of various I thicknesses permits of maintaining and pressing each portion of the soft metal strip or plate while hammering is gradually proceeded with, these plates being placed under the finger of the lever. The strips orplates of soft metal may be cast to various sizes by I means of moulds so that the same soft metal can be used indefinitely.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the'dental plate 14'thus obtained will exactly follow the contour of the die owing to the hammering ,with interposition of a soft metal, and that on the other hand, owing to the gradual hammering from the centreitowards the periphery of the die, the

metal of the dental plate although having a great mechanical resistance, Will neither fold nor tear at any place.

The cost of manufacturing such a dental plate will be much less than that of the present plates of gold or other precious metal, on the one hand because its Weight will be much less, and on the other because its cost, by

equal Weight, is lower.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for swaging dental plates of high resistance metal comprising, in combination, a base, a metal die secured to said base and adapted to receive the plate, a standard on said base, a lever pivoted to said standard, the free end of said lever extending above said die, said lever being adapted tohold the Work in posltion, and

adjustable means for locking said, lever in operative position. I

2. An apparatus for swaging dental plates of high resistance metal comprising, in combination, a base, a metal die secured to said base and adapted to receive the plate, a standard on said base, a horizontal pivot on said standard, a levermo unted for swinging motion on said pivot, the free end of said lever normally extending above said die, said lever being adapted to clamp the Work on said die,

a rod having a threaded upper end extending through a slot 1n sald lever, means on said base for engaging the lower end of said rod,

and a nut on the threaded end of said rod adapted to engage the top side of said lever.

' MAURICE CHARLIER. 

